Ah… Spring! You gotta love it, right? The weather, the sports, the fashion, the fun! But do you also love the stress? Of course not!

Spring can bring a lot of stress, too. And when we’re stressed we can get moody, angry, sad, lose focus and even get sick. So here are some ways to figure out if you’re getting stressed out and then how to CHILL OUT when the stress starts taking over. You’re going to love these ideas:

Take the ARE YOU TOO STRESSED TEST, RIGHT NOW:
1. Do you feel happy and then a few minutes later, start feeling sad, especially when you think about your homework or a list of things you’ve got to do? Or do you hear yourself yelling a lot, especially at your family?
2. Do you look at a page and start daydreaming immediately?
3. Are you constantly biting your nails? Looking for food? Throwing things on the floor?
4. Do you whine every time you’re asked to do something?
5. Have you forgotten when you last laughed?

If you have said “yes” to 3 or more of these things, you may be STRESSED OUT! Try these tips next time you feel stressed. You have the power to CHILL OUT. You really do! And these are easy things to try, right now:1. Inch by Inch Body Chill
Imagine your body, inch by inch, becoming really still. Breathe deeply while you imagine this happening. Start with your hair. End with your toes. By the time you’ve helped your whole body get really still, you’ll also feel light, happy and at peace. This should take 3-15 minutes. If you fall asleep, maybe that’s a sign you need more sleep!

2. Listen to Your Breathing
Breathe in and out 10 times. While you breathe, listen to the sound of the air traveling through your nose, into your lungs and then out again. Try and hold each breath for about 5 – 10 seconds. With each breath, say to yourself, “I can figure this out. I can handle this.” That beautiful sound of each breath while saying these empowering statements will help you realize that you can handle the situation that’s stressing you out, even if it means that you need to ask for help. You can do it.

3. Keep it Positive
Take the negative worry in your mind and replace it with the positive. If you keep thinking, “I don’t know where to start,” replace that negative thought with “I’ll make a list and start with number 1.” Making a plan helps us take action. Once we take action, we feel more powerful. Keep your plan positive!

3. Teach elevator breathing

Tell your child to close his eyes, slowly breath out three times, then imagine he’s in an elevator on the top of a very tall building. He presses the button for the first floor and watches the buttons for each level slowly light up as the elevator goes down. As the elevator descends, his stress fades away.

4. Create a Safe Place
If going to practice or class makes you feel stressed, create a space for yourself that you just love. Give it a smell or a sound or a look that you can imagine while you’re away. When you finish going to the place that’s causing you stress, you’ll feel more calm, knowing that when you return home you get to also return to your special, safe place.

5. Let It GoImagine that you are holding the thing that really makes you feel tense, right in the palm of your hand. Then squeeze it in your hand. Now open your hand and let it go. Imagine the thing that stresses you out flying out of your hand and away from you. Feel peace as it goes away. Let yourself smile. Maybe even say something, like, “Wow, that’s better.” Listen to your voice as you calmly say these words.

Still feel stressed? Try one of these:
1. Sign up for a yoga class!
2. Go for a 20-minute walk or run with a parent or BFF
3. Brush or bathe your pet
4. Make a card for someone you love
5. Listen to your favorite music

Did this help?

By letting yourself say that you feel stressed, you’re also letting yourself find solutions. Spring is a great time to sort stress out. You can find outdoor beauty and activities to help you find your inner peace. How do you keep Stress-Free? Tell us!